I usually prefer writing by hand over typing. Although typing can lead me to faster writing, easier editing and quick access to digital tools like spell check or a thesaurus, writing by hand can feel more personal and connected, which was especially meaningful for a variety of reasons. Writing out a lesson plan, a birthday card, a letter or an entry in a journal, writing by hand seems much more personal and unique than clicking away at a keyboard. For some reason, I have always enjoyed my printing and I especially enjoy writing with a lead pencil. Something about the lead scraping the grain of the paper really resonates with me and I’ve never thought about it so much until now. While I found the task definitely enjoyable, it was time-consuming and required more focus compared to if I typed this out.
To be honest, I didn’t make many mistakes but when I did have to erase once, I did with the back of my lead pencil. The pencil in the photo has been with me for over 8 years if I recall correctly. Those are the only pencils I like to write with, kind of a snob like that I suppose. But they just have the perfect weight, white eraser and 0.5 lead. When I made that mistake it was a quick fixed, easy erase. If the grain of the paper was ruined or the eraser smudged, I would have considered writing it out again. What does that say about me? I felt that this process made me more deliberate with my word choices and my overall structure, as I wanted to avoid errors. Writing by hand means that editing is more visible, unlike the simple backspace and delete keys available when typing.
The most significant difference between writing by hand and typing has to be the speed and ease of typing. Typing is much faster and allows for quick revisions without leaving a trace of mistakes. Writing for school or typing out things that I don’t feel are as personal doesn’t bother me at all. That’s not to say that school isn’t personal to me but it’s just not practical writing in large quantities but hand. Handwriting feels more permanent, personal and requires more careful consideration of each word. I enjoy this aspect of writing. I truly prefer writing in pencil over typing for most tasks. For personal reflections and diary entries, writing by hand can create a deeper sense of connection and authenticity and I also like that people know my writing when they see it. Take the writing of my daughters name for example. Seeing her name written by me is much more meaningful than seeing it typed. Little things, it’s all about the little things for me.
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3 replies on “Task 4: Manual Scripts”
Hi Carlo! Thank you for your reflection. Your preference of handwriting over typing is very insightful to me, as I myself have not thought of some of the points you mentioned, and I personally prefer typing. You’ve captured the essence of how handwriting can make certain tasks feel more personal and connected. Your enjoyment of the sensation of lead on paper highlights the unique satisfaction that comes from writing by hand. It’s fascinating how the physicality of writing can influence your deliberation with word choices and overall structure.
Your personal anecdotes, such as using a pencil you’ve had for over eight years and the meaningfulness of writing your daughter’s name, add depth and authenticity to your reflection. I write so little by hand now a days, most often probably a cheque. But now that I think of it, I do handwrite all the birthday cards, writing it slowly by hand, thinking it through before I write it down, do bring more meaning to what I put in the cards.
While you acknowledge the practical benefits of typing, your emphasis on the personal touch and careful consideration required in handwriting is compelling. Thank you for sharing!
Carlos, this is a fantastic post, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself emotionally invested as I share your sense of permanence and personalization with writing, yet I lack your writing ability and unfortunately actively avoid writing by hand. I’ve also had that dance recital experience with my own daughter, and with my son in different settings, and I love that you recorded it by hand. I hope you keep it and present it to your daughter when she is old enough to appreciate it and hold onto it forever.
Thanks for the post!
Steve
Oops, I added an ‘S’ to your name – sorry about that! I can’t seem to edit the comment.